Tony Rice

A brilliant guitarist, vocalist, and creator of life songs who inspired a generation In the summer of 2003, at the second Floydfest, the most anticipated headlining act on the bill was a special reunion of the David Grisman Quintet. Featuring Grisman, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, Jim Kerwin and Tony Rice, it was the one show at Floydfest II where the rest of the top musicians still on the festival grounds showed up to watch this legendary band that fundamentally changed acoustic music in the 1970s.   Earlier that day, while covering the festival for the now-defunct Gritz Magazine, I ran into Rice, whom I had met a few times previously.  “How is it going today, Tony,” I said. “Ah, Grisman has us rehearsing,” said Rice, in his trademark growl, not thrilled about the idea.  Under a tent backstage, the Grisman quintet did rehearse, and rightly so as Grisman’s dawg music is as complicated as it is delicate and beautiful. After they were done running through